What do you mean by trauma?

Trauma is the reaction to a highly unsettling or upsetting incident that overwhelms a person’s capacity for coping, results in feelings of helplessness, reduces a person’s sense of self, and limits their capacity to feel a complete range of emotions and experiences.

The kind of traumatic events that result in post-trauma symptoms varies quite a bit from person to person.

People might be affected by traumatic incidents and experiences for a long time. Some people may experience repercussions such as the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, which can differ in severity and can cause problems in their life, particularly if they never obtain professional PTSD therapy. Others may experience more gradually altered behavior, activities, or thought patterns as a result of trauma. Trauma can affect people in a variety of ways that they might not first be aware of.

However, on occasion, our original trauma response endures, making it challenging for us to perform as we would like. Long after the initial event, trauma can alter the way we feel, think, and behave. This may result in flashbacks or nightmares, a persistent sensation of apprehension, loneliness, rage, intrusive thoughts and memories, self-destructive behaviors, and other things for many people.

The effects of a traumatic event on one’s mental health and emotions:

Anxiety.

Depression.

Anger and irritation.

Radical shifts in mood.

You can increase your chances of recovery and rehabilitation by seeking quick therapy after identifying the afflicted areas:

The “thinking center” of the brain, or prefrontal cortex.

The area of the brain that controls executive function, or more complex higher-order thinking and reasoning, is called the prefrontal cortex. Planning, carefully considering options, and making wise decisions are all executive activities that are necessary for daily living. Executive functioning is weaker in patients with PTSD than in the normal population.

The prefrontal cortex may become damaged as a result of trauma and cause:

Making judgment calls: One may make riskier decisions as a result of poor executive functioning caused by prefrontal brain issues. This could help to explain why those who have experienced trauma tend to be more impulsive. 

Learning difficulties: Because the prefrontal cortex facilitates rational thought, information analysis, and problem-solving, injury to this area of the brain is frequently associated with learning difficulties. Trauma can lead to poor academic performance, memory problems, or trouble grasping new ideas.

Shorter attention span or ADD: Trauma can have both immediate and long-term effects on focus. Insufficiencies in this part of the brain may cause symptoms of ADD or ADHD since the prefrontal cortex is required for focused attention.

The Amygdala is often known as the emotional control center. 

The limbic system of the brain includes the amygdala, referred to as the “fear center,” which can become overactive in people who have been exposed to trauma. One may develop an oversensitivity to danger and become more susceptible to stress and anxiety as a result. The amygdala is more prone to malfunction and issues false alarms that activate the fight or flight response in circumstances that bring back painful memories.

One of the most typical trauma responses is the emergence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Flashbacks, avoidance habits, and strong emotional reactions when one is exposed to traumatic memories or triggers are some signs of PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-known symptom of trauma and is one of the most frequent trauma responses (PTSD). Flashbacks, avoidance techniques, and highly charged emotional reactions to memories of or triggers from one’s experience are all possible symptoms of PTSD.

Disorders of anxiety: The amygdala is associated with excessive concern or uneasiness, agitation, impatience, and difficulty focusing. These physiological alterations are frequently major signs of anxiety disorders.

Panic attacks: A panic attack is characterized by strong anxiety symptoms that strike suddenly and may include a racing heart, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, and dizziness. PTSD, anxiety disorders, and other disorders can all manifest as panic episodes, which are frequently felt at the height of the fight-or-flight reaction.

Hippocampus or the center of memory

Hippocampus is primarily in charge of learning and memory storage. The area of the brain that gives meaning and associations to memories, particularly painful ones, is called the hippocampus. Additionally, it is crucial for controlling emotions and stress reactions. This may help to explain why people who have experienced trauma are more prone to experience mood disorders, mental illnesses, and other emotional issues.

Depression: Because the hippocampus is involved in controlling emotions, it also affects how a person feels. This could be the reason traumatic events raise the possibility of developing mood disorders like manic depression.

Chronic stress: The hippocampus aids in stress management. Chronic stress is more frequently reported by trauma survivors (also called toxic stress). When presented with little problems and issues, someone with a lower stress tolerance is more likely to become agitated or overwhelmed.

Relationship issues: Everyone occasionally encounters disagreements in their relationships, but when emotion control is disturbed, these problems may become more frequent and severe. Insecure attachment styles and feelings of abandonment are further issues that many trauma survivors, particularly those who experienced trauma as children, face, which put additional strain on their relationships.

How Does the brain affect by Childhood Trauma?

Depression and other mood disorders.

Language and cognitive impediments.

Lower success in education and employment.

Higher prevalence of mental health problems and chronic illnesses.

Higher prevalence of ADD and ADHD and attention issues.

Therapy Techniques for Trauma Healing

BEHAVIOR THERAPY

Exposure is the most popular type of behavior therapy. In exposure therapy, the feared outcome is avoided by gradually confronting one’s concerns, such as recollections of painful events. This exposure frequently teaches the person that their fear or other unpleasant feeling is unfounded, which causes their fear to lessen. Exposure counselling has been shown to promote social adjustment, decrease anxiety and depression, and organize trauma memory.

THERAPY OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR

The foundation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the principle that a person must correct and change false beliefs while also gaining information and abilities. The following are typical components of cognitive behavioral counselling for trauma:

Educating people on breathing techniques to help them cope with stress and distress

Educating people about typical responses to trauma

Recognizing, assessing, and replacing negative, false, and irrational thoughts with more true but less negative thoughts

GROUP THERAPY

The best results from groups come when they are used in connection with individual therapy. Trauma survivors must select a support group that matches their stage of recovery:

Select a group that focuses on self-care and coping mechanisms for the safety/victim phase.

Select a group that is concentrated on telling the trauma story during the phase of remembering and mourning/survivorship.

The phase of reconnection and flourishing.

Where to find medical care

Finding a trauma counselling facility that can assist in addressing these concerns and perhaps even reversing some of these consequences is the greatest method to overcome these difficulties.

At GOOD PSYCHE, a clinical platform with a Delhi headquarters and Sandeep Dhillon as its director of counseling psychology. It seeks to provide clients with a complete and inclusive basket for their mental health needs. We help people better manage their mental health so that they can resume living their lives normally. Our team consists of the best psychologists and psychiatrists in the field, and they are always available to treat mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and OCD.

To learn more about our various therapies and consultations. Please go to the www.goodpsyche.com website.